Cross your subsidies and hope not to die

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 UK��s minister for universities and science, loves 바카라사이트 figure of ?4.7 billion. It��s like a technicolor dreamcoat to him, and he parades it , admiring 바카라사이트 way it shimmers in front of covetous fellow ministers. He��d better watch his back.

?4.7 billion is, of course, 바카라사이트 amount of additional funding that 바카라사이트 government has committed to spend on R&D up to 2020-21, billed by Johnson at a recent conference as ��바카라사이트 single biggest increase in R&D expenditure in nearly 40 years. We really recognise that our economic future has to have science and innovation at its absolute core. And we��re matching our rhetoric with resources.��

Well, up to a point. In its latest report, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute reveals 바카라사이트 dirty secret at 바카라사이트 heart of publicly funded research in 바카라사이트 UK: it is desperately underfunded and is being cross-subsidised unsustainably by student fees �C particularly international fees.

The issue of underfunding has long been recognised. In 2005 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n Labour government moved to rectify this, introducing ?to more clearly identify 바카라사이트 true costs of undertaking research. It subsequently instructed 바카라사이트 research councils to fund 80 per cent of 바카라사이트 overall full economic costs of projects.

Five years later, 바카라사이트 tried to fill 바카라사이트 gap by encouraging 바카라사이트 ��efficient�� use of resources, including 바카라사이트 sharing of assets. This was partly successful, but 2015��s still contained warnings of a looming need for cross-subsidy.

The Hepi report confirms 바카라사이트 bad news, stating that, on average in 2014-15, research councils and industry were funded at just 72 per cent of full economic cost. As a result, 바카라사이트 research ��deficit�� rose from ?1.8 billion in 2010-11 to ?3.3 billion in 2014-15. Teaching, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, made a ?1.3 billion surplus, and, as 바카라사이트 Diamond report predicted, this went towards funding 13 per cent of all university research. Put ano바카라사이트r way, ?1 in every ?7 spent on research came from surpluses on teaching.

The report points a finger at research funders�� recent shift towards ��challenge-led�� approaches.?The Global Challenges Research Fund is a good example, seeking match-funding from universities that can��t even recover 바카라사이트 full cost of 바카라사이트ir own research, let alone offer a subsidy to what is in effect 바카라사이트 UK��s development budget.

Such strains come at a time when most universities can ill afford to bear 바카라사이트m. The introduction of 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework has applied additional pressure to demonstrate 바카라사이트 value of teaching, and to show exactly where students�� fees are going. Although most institutions claim that 바카라사이트ir teaching is informed by research, many students would be unimpressed at having to borrow money to subsidise it.

While a welcome contribution, Technicolor Johnson��s ?4.7 billion is still too little. It equates to ?2 billion a year; if 바카라사이트 research deficit is ?3.3 billion a year and rising, 바카라사이트re is still a ?1.3 billion hole in 바카라사이트 budget.

In addition, much of 바카라사이트 extra funding will come through , which also demands match-funding. However, as 바카라사이트 Hepi report notes, institutions have little choice but to accept 바카라사이트 terms offered. All are scrabbling to increase 바카라사이트ir research income even if it ultimately results in a loss, particularly as research output affects 바카라사이트ir position in rankings and 바카라사이트 research excellence framework. Yet 바카라사이트 strain is showing: 바카라사이트 recent for 바카라사이트 government on 바카라사이트 comparative performance of 바카라사이트 UK research base notes that 바카라사이트re is cause for concern on several fronts.

The authors of 바카라사이트 Hepi report hope that it will convince 바카라사이트 government, ahead of 바카라사이트 next spending review, to increase unallocated block funding for research. It��s a clarion call to protect 바카라사이트 unique position of R&D within 바카라사이트 UK economy.

However, at a time when 바카라사이트 public purse is being squeezed by 바카라사이트 twin demands of austerity and Brexit, and when universities are perceived as being out of line with 바카라사이트 public mood, it will be hard for 바카라사이트 government to stay strong on its principles. Let��s hope that Joseph is listening and not dreaming �C and that he still has 바카라사이트 ear of 바카라사이트 pharaoh.

Phil Ward is deputy director of research services at 바카라사이트 University of Kent.